Scientists from McGill University have developed a novel process to harness the power of sunlight and convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane into valuable chemicals that can be used as fuels and in manufacturing. The photo- driven oxygen-atom-grafting process uses gold, palladium, and gallium nitride as catalysts to transform CO2 and methane into carbon monoxide and green methanol when exposed to sunlight.
This innovative method has the potential to recycle two greenhouse gases into useful products, producing 60-95% less CO2 emissions than conventional fuels. The process works at room temperature and doesn’t require high heat or harsh chemicals, making it a promising path towards achieving Canada’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Source: https://newatlas.com/energy/sunlight-co2-methane/